_Part XLIV: Sereth

Date: Yippah 13th, 114 A.U.

It was in the dark of night when the aircraft flew over the jungle foliage and stopped as ropes dropped down to the ground. Four darkened figures slid down the ropes to the top of the broken-down building, pausing and pointing their guns around before making sure that the coast was clear. And with that, as the aircraft flew off, they quickly climbed down from the building, turning on their night-vision goggles, and began to spread out from the building, searching for their quarry.



“Sereth!” Sereth stood up quickly from the carvings she was examining and ran out of the corridors of the building out into the open air to see one of her companions running toward her.

“Sereth! Sereth! Oh, there you are!”

“Och, what is it, Flen?”

“There are some elves here to see you! They say that they bear an important message from the Emperor!” Flen said, near breathless.

A message from the Emperor himself. Fat chance of that. But Sereth knew that she had to go along. “I donnae like this,” she muttered.

“Yes, well they didn’t seem to have much patience,” Flen said. “So if you can come back to camp-”

“Well, best to not keep them waiting,” Sereth said, hitching her backpack up higher. “Ah well, let’s see what they want.” She walked with Flen back to the camp, where Sereth saw two of the elves pacing while the other two were looking at the supplies.

“What are you doin’ with mae supplies?” Sereth asked as she steppe forward. “And what didst ye want with me?”

“Ah, are you Sereth?” one of the elves asked, as he strode forward.

“Och, well, I don’t see anyone else a’respondin’ to the naeme,” Sereth said. “What do ya want with me?”

“We’ve been given an important message from the Emperor,” the elf responded. “We’re from the elven guard and have been given the duty of finding you.”

“And what do ya want me for?” Sereth asked, still doubting if they really were given their message from the Emperor.

“According to our file on you, you have done some work at Tzel-Maret, is that right?” the elf asked.

“Ah, yes, Tzel-Maret,” Sereth said. “I remember it like it were yesterdae; a magnificent citadel it was, and with many good artifacts. But what do ya want me for? I haven’t been to Tzel-Maret for ten years, I believe; haven’t gone that far up north for a while.”

“The Emperor requests your presence at Tzel-Maret,” the elf said.

“What are ya trying to pull on me? Do ya mean to tell me that the Emperor himself wants an archaeologist and historian such as myself to go all the way north to Tzel-Maret?”

“Yes,” the elf said. “The Emperor is planning a visit to Tzel-Maret and requests your services as a guide.”

Thoughts flew past Sereth’s mind faster than she could catch them. Were they actually serious that the Emperor wanted her to come all the way up from here just to be his guide? But of course it would be an honor, but Sereth still had lingering doubts about their purpose… And what would the Emperor be wanting to do at Tzel-Maret?

“Well, I suppose that I donnae have much choice but to comply,” Sereth responded. “I assume you have proper identification and papers so that I know that you’re not trying to pull something on mae?”

“We have the papers,” the elf grumbled, fishing them out of his pack. “Now will ya come with me? I have to signal the ship to pick us up?”

“Well, I suppose I ought to,” Sereth said and she looked back at her companions. “But wait, will ya? What are my companions supposed to do? I just can’t exactly leave them here and we still have to pack up our equipment and-”

“We only have room on the ship for one person,” the elf snapped. “Your companions are going to have to stay here until you get back—if you get back, that is. “

“Are ya threatening me?”

“For crying out loud, I’m not threatening you, miss historian,” the elf said. “But I am merely pointing out that the Emperor does and the Emperor wills and if he decides to take you around for whatever places he wants to be visiting, you could very easily be gone for a long time.”

“But, my frien-”

“Well, they’re going to have to stay here, girl. We don’t have the space for them and we don’t have much time either.” The elf pointed to the aircraft that was flying toward them. “Now the ship is close to arrival. If you wanted to grab any other possessions before we went, it would be best to do it now before the ship gets here. We need to get going up to Tzel-Maret immediately. We have to catch another aircraft that’s going there in time and the Emperor does not like to be waiting on people.”

“Yes, yes, I understand,” Sereth grumbled as she looked around to try and see what she would have to grab. She usually packed most of the things she had in the backpack she carried around in case she ran into an emergency in one of the ruins, but just to make sure…

“You’re leaving us?” Flen asked, running up to her.

“Well, I’m afraid so,” Sereth replied, pursing her lips. “I can’t exactly argue much with him, seeing that he has the warrants and all, and I can’t think of any other options. I’ll be back here sooner than you know it, Flen. Just stick around these parts and when I’m free of my duties, I’ll return. I hope I’ll be seeing you again, then.”

“Yeah… same here…” Flen said glumly.

“Hey! The aircraft is here!” the elf yelled. “Get on over here so we can take off!”

“Very well, very well, hold your trousers,” Sereth said. And with that she turned from her friends and her past life ready to embark the air craft to take her to see the Emperor at Tzel-Maret. Because somehow, Sereth doubted that her life was going to do anything but take a sharp dramatic change. But for the worse or for the better, she couldn’t tell.

Question of the Day:What is at Tzel-Maret?

_Cliff-hanger!

Part XLIII: Breakdown

Date: Yippah 10th, 114 A.U.

The harsh wind blew across the snow-covered mountains, blowing the snow around to find a new settling place as it whistled through the crevices. Blowing across the snow-covered valleys of the upper mountains Winding around spires and rocks, it blew past the stranded air ship in the process.

Rider watched the shivering Flek step of the ship into the freezing cold to join the others huddled around the front of the machine. Rider had been wondering how long it would take before Flek finally got the nerve to come out into the cold. Flek didn’t really seem to like the cold.

“How is it?” Flek asked, putting his hands in his pockets to try and keep them warm.

“I…” Number 994 weakly said as he probed the machine with his mind. “I… I don’t…” He scrunched his eyes shut as he pressed more firmly on the engine.

“I can’t see anything on the outside to explain the breakdown,” Reynyagn said. “Maybe-”

“Got it,” Number 994 said, and he pulled back from the engine, opening his eyes. “I figured out where the problem was.”

“Can you fix it easily?” Rider asked.

“I’m not sure,” Number 994 said, pursing his lips. “I don’t think so—at least—not easily. It’s kind of hard to explain to you, but basically the elements weathered down part of the machine that was unprotected—the machine wasn’t made for this sort of terrain. From the information I gathered, I think there’s a pretty good gash in the underside of this that we should check out. I don’t think I can fix it, so I’ll have to rework the system to go around the damaged spot. I’m not completely sure how I’m going to do that…”

“Well, best to get it raised up a bit or something,” Reynyagn said. “And then we can take a look at the physical damage done. I think I might be able to move the machine up that much, so-”

“Don’t move,” Rider hissed, sliding a long corsha rapier out of its sheath. “There’s something watching us.” His eyes darted to where he thought he had seen the movement but he saw nothing—at least right now he saw nothing.

“What is it?” Astrid asked, an element of fear to her voice.

“I just sensed movement,” Rider said. “Just be on your guard.” They were silent for several minutes. Rider looked around but he could still see nothing. Maybe it was nothing, but still… His instincts rarely failed him.

“I don’t see anything,” Reynyagn said as he looked around. “Where was it?”

“Well, it was from that direction,” Rider said, slowly gesturing with his head. “But then from that direction, I thought I-”

Whatever he was about to say was lost as suddenly, Zarien gave a cry, clutching his head, and collapsed to the ground. Flek spun around, reaching for his swords, as he moved to defend himself, but just as he saw his attacker he too clutched at his head and collapsed. Astrid and Brother Tomas fell at the same time. Rider turned to see the attackers but saw nothing. Something flashed by his eye and Kailen and Jroldin also fell down.

“Where is it coming from?” Monty yelled, and fired his gun toward what he thought was the source before he too collapsed. It was now only Rider, Reynyagn, and Number 994.

“Get in the ship!” Rider yelled. “Maybe in there we can be safe!”

“I know what-” Number 994 began before he too clutched at his head. His eyes bulged and it seemed like for a moment he was fighting against it. But then he also went limp and collapsed. But Rider and Reynyagn were already moving. Rider made it to the door just as Reynyagn gave a cry. Tripping backwards, Reynyagn stared outwards as he flung his arms to either side while holding his head. Powerless to help his friend, it was all Rider could do to get in the vehicle before he watched Reynyagn fall back limply and off the cliff down toward whatever was below. Rider’s eyes followed Reynyagn’s descent as he bit his lip.

Rider slammed the door to the airship shut as his mouth opened wide, agape. Then he sharply turned, looking around through the windows at the world outside to try and catch whatever their assailant was.

They can’t be dead. The rest of the Xavier team just can’t be dead. Rider turned his head but couldn’t see anything through the snow. Then, a dark figure emerged and walked toward them. Rider tried to see who it was, but couldn’t make out any details. Leaping for the door, Rider slid the lock before leaping back, sword ready to meet the figure. Several other figures emerged, but thanks to the fierceness of the storm, Rider couldn’t make out anything. He stepped back, almost paralyzed with fear, before he gritted his teeth. He would do this. He would rescue his comrades.

Making for the weapons stash, Rider withdrew a powerful blaster gun from the hold and had just begun to turn back when the front window of the machine shattered with a resounding clap. As snow blew into his eyes, Rider pointed the gun wildly, trying to see who it was. Before he could spot someone though, a sharp wave of pain cascaded into his mind, reducing his usage of his other senses. Rider shot wildly toward the front window as he stumbled back, unable to speak. The pain ripped through his mind as milliseconds seemed like minutes. Rider felt himself fall forward as his hands moved toward his pained head. Rider faintly remembered hitting the ground. But try as he might he couldn’t remember anything else as the darkness came to meet him.

Question of the Week:What will happen to the Xavier Team?

_After reading this part some may ask, what does it matter? Why should you care who is governor? Well... I'm just going to keep that my little secret ^_^ But what do you think? What part do you think the governorship of Araelia will play in the long-term, and who do you support for governor? And do you think Astrid is honest with her foreign policy, or is it all mostly a political gimmick?

Part XLII: Debate

Date: Yippah 13th, 114 A.U.

Iraina looked in the mirror as his stylist put the last finishing touches on his hair before Iraina put on the dark shades that he would wear until he got up on the podium, finishing off his look. His good looks, combined with his call to arouse the city to go out to war against the elves had gotten the youth well on his side; all that was now needed was to convince those in the city who had been alive for longer than that and were more firmly behind the aged Astrid. After checking with the stylist to make sure he was good, Iraina sat down in the seat in preparation for when the limousine stopped at the town hall where he would have his debate with the Governor. Iraina was ready.

The limousine pulled to a stop, and Iraina waited for his guards to get to the door before he opened it, smiling and waving to the waiting crowd. Raising his hand in the air as a salute, he met the many hands that were held out towards him and laughed along with the crowd as he made his way toward the town hall, grinning and having fun with the rest of the jubilant crowd. Get them worked up; get them in a frenzy about him—make them in love with him. It would only further to increase the votes.



“You have to be on top of things at this debate, Astrid,” her campaign manager was saying. “The spike you got for the Xavier Team is almost gone and you’re going to need something to convince the people who joined you for the Xavier Team to get back with you. You need to make them just as jubilant as before with any information that you have from them.”

“But the information we’ve gotten from them so far-”

“Make them excited, Astrid,” the campaign manager said. “Iraina’s lead is only growing in the polls; you have to come out and hit him now. Alright?”

“All right,” Astrid said, pursing her lips. “I’ll do it.”


Iraina stepped up to his podium and deftly removed his shades, placing them under the podium, as he smiled at the crowd. A moment later, Astrid came out to the stage and deliberatively walked to the podium, crisply arranging herself there. Iraina noticed her tenseness and relaxed a little more. It would look good to the voters. He watched as the debate moderator came out and smiled. Their efforts to get a moderator sympathetic to his side had worked; now it was time to use all of his advantages to continue his rise to match Governor Astrid.


“This question is fielded to you from John Wilson from the eighth district,” the moderator said. “The question is, Candidate Iraina, you have said that you want to move aggressively against the elves. My question is, how do you plan on outmatching the forces of the elves?”

Iraina relaxed a bit. He had rehearsed his answer to this many times. “Well, Mr. Wilson,” Iraina said. “One doesn’t need to have greater forces than the elves to be able to defeat them. When the elves first rose to power, they didn’t primarily gain that power through the strength of arms but through the element of surprise. Thanks to some certain lax policies of our governor, we have refused to strike even though we are able.

I have evidence from a former cabinet member to our governor that shows that we have very detailed reports of the elves strengths and where their weak points are; furthermore, we have had such information for decades and have even been in positions to unleash a devastating strike against them. The only thing that has stopped us before from hitting the elves hard with a surprise surgical strike is because we have a governor who has consistently vetoed all efforts by us the people to try and regain our freedom. This is not acceptable; we have been subjugated by the elves too long—let’s stop electing a hesitating governor and elect someone who has bold plans to take that which is rightfully ours.” The crowd erupted in applause as Iraina smiled. Let’s see Astrid try and defend against that.

“Governor, a thirty second rebuttal?” the moderator asked.

“Thank you,” Astrid said as the applause died down. “My fellow candidate here wishes to both take the glory and the claimed failures of my previous policies in office. As we heard him say, one of the best benefits we have in this battle is the element of surprise. But while my fellow candidate here has wished to take stabs at all my policies, he has forgotten to point out that the only reason we have the surprise is because I’ve given us that advantage through our years of secrecy. Before now we haven’t been able to strike against them because we simply lacked the strength. It is only a fool that strikes when he isn’t ready. But as I have shown throughout my record, I am willing and I have done my best to ready ourselves to be able to strike out against them. It is through my patience that we’ve had time to gather a team of prophesy to go out and fight against the elves. So, unless my colleague would like to take the glory for my work in electing the Xavier Team, let’s look at who really has the record of working against the elves, all right?” The crowd again erupted in applause. But Iraina was ready in his rebuttal.

“Governor Astrid has claimed,” Iraina said, “that we have been merely waiting for the right opportunity to strike out against the elves and that all the advantages we have are because of her. Now, people of Araelia, let me ask you. Why is it that for months of our campaigning here, our governor argued time and time again that there was no use fighting against the elves until she started losing her inevitability in the polls? She would like to take all the praise for the Xavier Team and use that to prove that she wants to fight aggressively, but who was on that side first? Time and time again in this election I’ve argued for an aggressive push while she has flipped her side just to try and win this election so that she can go back to the same-old policies. Well, let me tell you something. I’m not running for the same-old policies! I’m not flipping sides just to gain votes! Governor Astrid has emphasized her stable side over the years, but if she’s willing to change her stable side at a moment’s notice in order to gain votes, what does that say about the stability of her side?” The crowd roared in applause as Iraina noticed Astrid bite her lip. Governor Astrid fumbled her response as Iraina relaxed to the roaring of the crowd. His numbers were going to be rising. His numbers were going to be rising.

Question of the Week:What are your answers for my above questions?

_Part Forty One... Back to the Xavier Team... Haven't had many comments lately, except for my short story parts... I better come up with my new comment contest soon for comments :P

Part XLI: Detour

Date: Yippah 8th, 114 A.U.

The rising sun cast its healing beams abroad to touch the rocky mountainside and the air ship that moved past it. Jroldin yawned as he left his quarters toward the front of the ship. Reynyagn was already out and staring intently at something up ahead. Jroldin moved next to Reynyagn and cocked his head to peer around him to see the mountains ahead.

“What is it?” Jroldin asked, seeing Reynyagn’s intent stare.

“Out there,” Reynyagn said, gesturing. Jroldin looked at where Reynyagn was gesturing and thought he could make out what Reynyagn was pointing at. It looked like a gray mass in the distance—almost looking like one of the mountains from Jroldin’s distance, though Jroldin thought it might be flying.

“What is it?” Jroldin asked.

“I’m trying to get some readings on it,” Reynyagn said. “But I think…” Reynyagn paused. “It’s rather far out and large enough that I suspect it to be an elven city.”

Jroldin focused on the small grey mass in the distance. “What?”

“A huge flying city,” Reynyagn said. “Picture it like one of the above-ground cities of old—just on a large base and having massive powerful thrusters on the bottom side that keep it afloat. It is in such cities that many elves live.”

“You mean…” Jroldin said. “That that’s-” The computer beeped and Reynyagn moved to see its reading.

“Yes,” Reynyagn said, looking at the screen. “That’s a huge floating elven city. And trust me. We don’t want to get anywhere near it.”

“We could go around it,” Jroldin said. “It looks like-”

“I’ve been checking that out,” Reynyagn said. “But the options aren’t terrible alluring. To the right, once we avoid the city we’d be moving toward a place blanketed by storms. And without a lot of tools in case the airship is hit, I’d rather not go there. And to the left we’d be moving back to the elves’ traditional homeland…”

“So?”

“I suppose it should be fine…” Reynyagn said. “But I worry about there being more cities there… I know that there are a fair amount of elven ground cities and labor camps there… And it will be higher elevation; I suppose this machine is supposed to do that, but given that we’ve only been trying it closer to the ground, I’m not sure how well it will withstand the higher elevation.”

“Well, if the problem there might be cities, given that there’s a flying city here, unless being off track is that bad…” Jroldin began.

“True,” Reynyagn said. “Better to go for a lower chance there than an automatic chance here of hitting a city. We go left then…” He began punching numbers into the computer as Rider came out.

“Greetings,” Rider said as he joined them. “What are you doing?” Jroldin quickly explained the problem and their solution.

“Very well, I suppose,” Rider said, and he pursed his lips as he clenched his hand into a fist. “I came from the elves’ traditional homeland.”

“Oh!” Jroldin said, intrigued to hear some of Rider’s mysterious past. “What did you do there?”

Rider said nothing for a moment before speaking. “I was a slave,” he said. “It’s unusual for an elf to be a slave, yes, but I was one. My parents had done something horribly wrong and so they got stripped of their status as an elf and were sent to work with the other races in the labor camps.”

“Labor camps?” Jroldin interrupted.

“It’s what the elves have done with most of the survivors from the other races,” Rider said. “They capture them and bring them to many of their labor camps where they do much of the menial labor required to keep their weak bodies from doing any work. It was at that labor camp that I spent the first ten years of my life at before I managed to get an opening and escaped. I nearly died, but I managed to escape. Fortune smiled on me so that I met with a dwarven scout party and joined them, and by that means managed to come into the mountains away from being constantly hunted.”

“Oh…” Jroldin said. “So that’s why you are an outcast.”

“Aye,” Rider said. “They treat them worse like animals, the elves do to the other races. Mind my words, Jroldin. There are few fates worse than being in the labor camps. I would sooner befriend a dog than one of those mongrel elves. I could strangle them all with my bare hands.”

Jroldin stepped back at the harshness of Rider’s words.

“You wouldn’t react so if you’ve seen the things that I have seen,” Rider said. “And I have seen things, Jroldin. Scenes that few, except perhaps you, Reynyagn—especially you given that you were a witness of the massacre—have seen. If you ever wonder why it is that you are fighting against the elves, go no further than to ask me. Or visit one of the labor camps for yourselves.” Rider spat on the ground. “Wicked beings.” And with that, he spun on a heel and left. Jroldin watched him go, unsure of what to say.

“He’s seen awful things,” Reynyagn said, as if he was reading Jroldin’s mind. “Things that have taken me over a century to wipe out of my mind. There are many horrible things in life, Jroldin. Take heed that you do not dwell upon them.”

Question of the Week: What do you think about Rider?

_Well, I apologize for not posting on Saturday... Like I afore said, I was at an NCFCA speech tournament and thus was unable to post... So, we will return to posting the Arquenia Saga. We need a new prize for a new comment contest though...

Suggestions?

Part XXXX: Maneuvers

Date: Yippah 9th, 114 A.U.

“The elves have taken the Northern Crag,” the messenger said.

Freglak pursed his lips as he stood up. “How great of a force did they have?”

“We estimated thirty thousand troops have landed in the crag so far,” the messenger said. “They attacked with a couple thousand—as well as a great many aircraft. Not the Mothership at the very least, but they still destroyed the guard of five hundred goblins and any other outposts on the crag.”

“What were the casualties?”

“Nearly all of our men were lost in the attack,” the messenger said. “However, they suffered heavy casualties. Estimates are coming in that they lost more than half of their attacking force and a good many airships. A few survivors said that they nearly won out against the first wave of elves, but after the second wave came in, it was too much.”

“They have a foothold in the forest then…” Freglak mused.

“Yes sir,” the messenger replied. “Major Erken says that his troops are ready and the plans are waiting to be executed.”

“Good,” Freglak said. “You may leave.” He walked toward the large circular table, otherwise known as the Codex, in the middle of the room that had been installed two weeks ago and pressed his hand on it. As he did so, the screen on top of it lit up and moved around to portray a map of the Great Forest. With some motions, he zoomed in on the northern part of the forest and used some controls to add the elves to the northern crags at the top of the Great Forest and paused, thinking. Reynyagn had been planning for this, at least. Between some false spies to the elves and some other work, they had gotten the elves to attack in the north—just as they’d wanted them to. It was unfortunate that they had taken the crags, instead of a bit east of the crags, but it should do.

Freglak zoomed in a bit more and then jabbed at the icon of Major Erklen, selecting one of the options. As he did so, the map vanished to portray a picture of Major Erklen.

“Greetings, Lord Freglak,” a voice came in through the table, although the picture did not move. “I entrust you have received my message?”

“Yes, Major,” Freglak said. “Why did you not tell me via the Codex?”

“My apologies, sir,” the Major replied. “I had somewhat forgotten that we had put this communication in place.”

“Think nothing of it, Major,” Freglak said. “No harm done. Have any developments been made with the elves since you sent the messenger?”

“None, sir,” Major Erklen replied. “The elves seem to be waiting to see what we will do first.”

“Very well then,” Freglak said. “What ships do they have? Wait, no… Just input all the figures you know into your miniature codex device after our talk and send the information here.”

“I…” Erklen began. “I can do that?”

“Talk to one of the technicians,” Freglak said. “They’ll hook you up. I have all of your information, but if you can get theirs then that will help me fill in the battle scene here. I will relay commands via the Codex once I have your reports.”

“Yes sir,” Erklen said. “I will talk to the scouts and get a report back as soon as I can. I don’t think I’ll be able to get them in until an hour, though…”

“Very well,” Lord Freglak replied. “I’ll be waiting.” And with that he ended the communication. Freglak squinted, and rubbed his head. Reynyagn had told Freglak how Codexes like this were used for many different purposes—both concerning and not concerning their military, before the Upheaval. And so, digging into the large cluttered cellars of their palace, they had managed to find a Codex and Reynyagn had been able to give their technicians some tips about how to use it before they went. Reynyagn had been keeping up a steady stream of communication to Freglak while he was in their speeder but hadn’t much after he had reportedly found the dwarves and humans. After that, there had been no communication, though Reynyagn promised he would put him in touch with the dwarves…

Freglak suddenly looked at his watch and quickly stood up. He had an appointment with High Priest Jaine. And given recent events, Freglak did not think it a wise idea at all to keep the High Priest waiting.



“Lord Freglak.”

“Greetings, High Priest Jaine,” Freglak said, slightly bowing his head in pretend reverence.

“Please, sit down,” High Priest Jaine said as he gestured to the other chair at the oak wood table. Freglak sat down. The High Priest was silent for a few minutes as he contemplated the acorn in front of him.

“So,” High Priest Jaine said, looking at Freglak. “The elves have established a foothold.”

“You know already?” Freglak asked. “The news just came to me-”

“You know better than to ask that question,” High Priest Jaine responded. “Our knowledge goes far and wide. This attack displeases me, Freglak.”

“As it does I,” Freglak said. “But you would be glad to know-”

“Any threat the elves make is a threat to the Mothertree,” High Priest Jaine said sharply. “And it is your actions, Freglak, that have brought this attack upon us.”

“If you had a problem with my actions,” Freglak began. “You could have said before-”

“We both know that I did not need to say it,” High Priest Jaine snapped. “You seem to have a mindset that you can do things without our permission. You attacked an elven ship and brought all this upon us without our permission—and on the day of the Celebration. Furthermore, you told us nothing about the Sla’ad you had here until after he was gone.”

“You said you had knowledge of anything, did you not?” Freglak asked coolly. “I would expected you to know already that I was entertaining a Sla’ad in my quarters.”

“And we would have known, had you not hidden it from me,” High Priest Jaine said coolly. “Remember Freglak why it is that you are Lord over the Great Forest. It was not for nothing that we supported you over your opponent to be Lord.”

“And I respect that,” Freglak said. “But that was years ago. Besides which, the only reason you supported me was because otherwise my uncle said that you-”

“Who told you that?” High Priest Jaine interrupted, eyes mad with anger.

“My uncle warned me about the influence that the priests would try to exert upon me,” Freglak said carefully, treading dangerous ground. “Of course, much of what he said was folly as you are so-”

“Skip the vain talk!” High Priest Jaine snapped.

“And so he made sure he told me about most of his dealings over the years,” Freglak said. “He wanted me to know how I would be able to thwart the Priesthood of the Mothertree.”

“Heretic,” High Priest Jaine muttered. “I always knew he was, though-”

“The elves in the northern crags are soon to suffer a tremendous blow to their cause,” Lord Freglak said.

“And what then?” High Priest Jaine snapped. “You don’t mean to tell me that you think you can actually beat the Mothership, can you? The elves will not relent.”

“The Sla’ad, along with my top aide Flek have recently formed the Xavier Team,” Lord Freglak bluffed, even though he had no idea if they ever managed to form the team or not. “I am currently in league with that team to help bring down the elven empire. You respect the Prophet Xavier, do you not, High Priest Jaine?”

The High Priest opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

“Good day,” Lord Freglak said. “And take heed that you remember your place as well, High Priest Jaine. This is no time for political division, and I will be instrumental in the elves’ downfall. You may think that you control me, Jaine, but you don’t. I serve the Mothertree and Her mission to bring down the elves over any other petty squabbles that I might get myself into.” And with that, Lord Freglak left, leaving a gaping High Priest watching him leave.

_ Anyways, we'll see when I get the time to do that again... And I don't know if I'll be able to post on Saturday since I may be in an NCFCA speech tournament (depends if I break into outrounds or not...)

So anyways, on to Part 39: Beyond. IN other words, "we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto"...

Part IXL: Beyond

Date: Yippah 5th, 114 A.U.

Far North the party now must go if it wants to succeed.
The trials that will try the group will bring it to the brink;
Despair must run o’er them before the culmination comes.
Till purified with fire it will stand against fire.

The machine slowly slowed to a halt. The doors opened, and Astrid stepped out into the blowing wind. She walked a couple feet forward to the crag that jutted out, overlooking the mountainous region under, above, and beyond her. In the middle of nowhere. Astrid shivered as Number 994 stepped beside her.

Astrid cringed slightly, still unused to being so close to a living breathing orc, but Number 994 seemed to pay her no mind. Instead he cocked his head and stretched out his hand. And, closing his eyes, he seemed to feel the wind as it rushed past and ponder. Astrid turned away.

“So how far north do you think we have to go?” Flek was asking as he stepped out from the vehicle.

“Far enough,” Reynyagn said as he stepped out beside him. “Most likely it will mean getting past the mountains here into the north beyond; the place where the orcs once lived. Some place that will probably have its fair share of fire in it, at least, that’s what the prophesy would seem to indicate.”

“I don’t particularly think I like what this part of the prophesy says will happen to us here,” Reklen said.

“I know,” Reynyagn said. “But it is through these trials that have been prophesied that we must go through, according to the prophesy, if we want to have any choice at succeeding in our mission.”

“We’re alone,” Astrid said simply as she turned to look upon her new comrades. “There’s nothing out here. Nothing except the wind and snow.”

“Aye,” Reynyagn said. “It’s rather desolate…” They were silent for a few minutes as the wind rushed past.

“I suppose that’s just as well,” Zarien said, hobbling out from the vehicle. His mechanical leg had been giving him problems. “Because, if anyone’s out here, it’s going to be the elves. And I don’t think I want to have our big confrontation with them quite yet. I’m hoping we’re going to get something super-powerful out here to help us stand against them.”

“That would be nice,” Flek agreed.

“Well,” Reynyagn said. “No use standing around talking when we could be doing something. I was hoping that we might be able to find some source of prey out here in the mountains to try and conserve our supplies.”

“I’ll be gone looking,” Number 994 said, and with that he made his way down from the crag to search for prey.

“Very well,” Reynyagn said. “This morning I thought I saw some way for the machine to get fueled on solar power in the back when the machine is idle, so I’m going to investigate that. If the rest of you want to do whatever, that’s fine. Maybe someone wants to go help Number 994 hunt.”

“I’ll hunt on my own,” Reklen chirped, and with that he scampered off. Astrid watched as people left to their own tasks as Flek and Jroldin moved up beside her on the crag of the mountain.

“It’s no wonder you dwarves stayed underground up here,” Flek said. “Isn’t much up here that seems to be any good for you.”

“From what Reynyagn said, it seemed like beyond the mountains would be similarly desolate,” Jroldin said. “But the orcs ended up staying there.”

“True,” Flek said. “But… if Number 994 is any indication, it doesn’t seem that orcs would be the type of people to mind about solitude. Don’t seem to have any personality, that’s for sure.”

Astrid laughed. “I suppose that is true…” she said. “And any personality that Number 994 might have he seems to blame and put off on others. All that weird impersonal orc kind of stuff.”

“He’ll come around…” Jroldin said. “Eventually… At least I hope he does. Can’t have him stay the boring person in our party for long!” There was an awkward silence between them.

“I wish the prophesy gave us more information about what to do,” Astrid finally said. “Or even if we had a good idea about what we were looking for up in the North. I mean, we don’t know anything except that we’re supposed to go up there. We’re just wandering aimlessly!”

“Not really…” Flek said. “Reynyagn seemed to be trying to follow the star still… He said that there was some ancient custom about giving each star a certain position on the earth, and so he was trying to steer the vehicle on course to the traditional spot on the earth where the star would be in hopes that it would bring us anything. At least, he said he was going to… course that was weeks ago with the hectic hustle and bustle of getting prepared and getting sent out on our mission and everything, so he might have a different plan right now.”\

“Reynyagn is some person….” Jroldin said. “He gives me the shivers sometimes though. I mean, if he’s blacker than the night! And he scares the jeepers out of me when he just pops up after he’s been basically invisible in a dark enough shadow.”

“He’s not that creepy…” Astrid said, a bit defensively. “At the very least, he knows where we should be going.”

“What’s he doing?” They all turned to follow Jroldin’s line of sight to Rider, who was standing alone on part of the mountain, gazing off in the distance back from where they had come from.

“He seems to be a bit of a solitary person,” Astrid said. “At least for now he is… doesn’t talk much at all…”

“Brother Tomas said it had something to do with his past before he came to Araelia…” Jroldin said.

“Well, I suppose that makes a bit of sense…” Flek said. “But sometimes I wonder about him… I do wonder…”

_As I hinted at before, this post has the additional benefit of being also done in video with a dramatic reading... You can find the video on the downloads page of my website...

PLEASE tell me what you think of it and how much you liked it... How much people like it will correspond to how often I do things like this... Also, the picture in between sections is the drawing that Seth did for me for the Arquenia Saga, so...

Enjoy!


Part XXXVIII: A Message for the Emperor

Yippah 11th, 114 A.U.

Jaigran, Duke of the Upper Skies, Lord of the Lower Earth, First of the Supreme Elves, Highest of the Flyers, General of the Imperial Army, Emperor of Arquenia, was restless. Jaigran nearly smiled with amusement as all of his officials made up lame excuses to have absence. And Jaigran allowed them, a faint smile trickling along his lips. None of the officials wanted to be around him while he was restless… quite possibly because of what happened the last time he was restless. That was one hundred and eighteen years ago, when he first dreamed about the Mothership…

Jaigran stood up and rubbed his head with his golden gauntlets. As he did so, he reached into the secret compartment in his throne and drew out his long golden corsha spear. And doing so, he sat back down upon his throne in a state of mental peace, his stomach slowly moving in rhythm with his breathing.

He was such a hypocrite, yes, Jaigran knew. For all his talk about abolishing the old corsha for the new technology, he still clung closely to his weapon. The one that he had taken long ago… Jaigran was silent as he remembered his deeds of the past, when he remembered her, when he remembered what they…

Jaigran stood up, opening his eyes wide, as he readjusted his grip on his spear. He needed to do something. It was one hundred and fourteen years since he became emperor, and still, not all the races were in subjugation. Sure their long-going plans were reaching its fruition but still…

He was the Emperor of Arquenia! He was the General of the Imperial Army! It was high time enough that every single intelligent being bowed the knee to him, the First of the Supreme Elves! Whenever it came, even if it came at this moment, it was over a century too late! He had lived longer than a normal elf, yes, much longer, but he was going to make sure, even if it was at his dying breath, that he would see the world in complete subjugation to him before he died! He would-

At that moment, the doors flew open, and, muttering a curse, Jaigran quickly stashed his spear back into his throne as he walked forward. Two elven guards were holding back a struggling winged female elf. The elf looked mad, her long hair flying everywhere, her clothes unheaveled, and her torn wings beating.

“Get it!” she screamed. “Get it out of me! Take it away!”

“What is this?” Emperor Jaigran asked, as he stepped forward.

“Help me!” the elf exclaimed. “Oh help me! Kill me! Rip out my throat and end my misery and the-“ Her voice morphed into a scream, and then, the sound from her mouth abruptly stopped. He moved his mouth, but no sound came out. Her eyes stared at Emperor Jaigran in horror and then, they rolled back into her head as she went still. And then, the elf spoke.

“Hello, Emperor Jaigran,” a cold low voice said. “It is a pleasure to meet you.” The two guards froze. Jaigran’s skin crawled at the low voice that emitted from the female elf.

“I am Emperor Jaigran,” Jaigran said, not willing to let this strange creature disturb his mindset, “the Emperor of Arquenia. What do you want?”

“I am the Guardian,” the voice said. “I am the one who has kept the world of Arquenia for over millennia. I have come to offer you a proposition.”

“You offer me a proposition…” Jaigran said, suspiciously. “What kind of proposition?”

“A deal; a mutual agreement of sorts between the two of us,” the voice said, the voice dripping with smoothness. “A way to establish your rule over Arquenia once and for all, where there is none who would dare oppose you.”

“And what do you want out of this?” Jaigran asked. There was always a catch.

“Power,” the voice said. “You may be ruler, but it is only by giving me power that you will be able to do so.”

“Forgive me for not being overly suspicious of your deal,” Jaigran said sarcastically. “But-“

“My resident body comes from the Citadel of Tzel-Maret,” the voice cried out. “It is to that citadel that you must go.”

“Your resident body?” Jaigran asked, reaching for his gun he kept hidden.

The winged elf vomited all over the floor and a spasm went through it. “Go to Tzel-Maret,” the deep voice said. “My hold is passing… passing…”

Suddenly, the elf’s eyes snapped alert, a more feminine shriek emitting from her lips. Her body went rigid and moved upward, her neck twisting and her eyes following a certain upward trajectory. She opened her mouth and stared as if some invisible spirit had just exited her body. And then her body went limp and she fell, collapsing in the pool of her own vomited.

The guards started, reaching for their weapons in fear, and Jaigran himself found himself flinching in horror as he felt his face pale. Jaigran sucked on his lips for a moment, and then, finally, spoke to the cowering dumb-struck guards.

“Leave,” he said quickly. “Go and let no one disturb me.”

“Should we-” one of the guards began as one of them moved toward the elf.

“No,” Jaigran said, seeing his intent. “Leave her here and I will deal with her when she awakens. Now leave.” The guards quickly exited the room.

Jaigran was still for a couple moments as his chest heaved, adrenaline still racing. “The citadel of Tzel-Maret…” Jaigran slowly said, and he walked toward the map that hung on the wall portraying the geography of Arquenia. “The ancient citadel of Tzel-Maret…”

Question of the Week:What do you think about doing it in video?